NEW DELHI, May 6 – Yet another case of human trafficking has come to light, with Anti-Kidnapping Squad (AKS) of Crime Branch of Delhi Police rescuing a minor girl from Assam from the clutches of the owner of a placement agency.

Sixteen-year-old Shruti (name changed) who hails from Kamrup district was rescued by the joint operation conducted by AKS Crime Branch and Shakti Vahini on May 5. The trafficker identified as Ismail Ahmed made a false promise that he would marry her but after reaching Delhi he was about to sell her off, before she was rescued.

The AKS Crime Branch team conducted a decoy operation and the trafficker demanded Rs 1.5 lakh for the minor girl. During the counselling, it was revealed that the trafficker used to talk to the girl over phone often and when he developed a good relationship with the girl he wanted to take advantage of her innocence. It was found that he is already married and has four kids.

On April 27, the trafficker, who hails from Nagaon district, lured the girl to Delhi and kept her in a house in Shakarpur, the owner of which is one Babita, owner of placement agency. An FIR under Section 363, 366A and 376 has been lodged in the Crime Branch.

After medical examination the girl was sent to children home, Nirmal Chaya Complex, as per the order of the Child Welfare Committee. In the meantime, the NGO officials contacted her parents. As per information received, her father and elder brother are on their way to Delhi.

Talking to this newspaper, Rishi Kant of Shakti Vahini said that the situation in Assam is getting worse, as more and more girls are being trafficked from the State promising them better life. “There is a need for better coordination between the State and the Centre on one hand and among the States on the other to check human trafficking,” Rishi Kant said.